Every girl deserves to be a Princess, even if for just one day and I do love the happy days filled with bright sunny weather. So Sunshine Princess I am. I hope to sprinkle some warmth into your hearts, a smile, and maybe a bit of inspiration.
I am blessed with 2 boys that fill my life with much happiness and most importantly love.

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Sometimes dreams do come true even if it just for a little while. That sure is nice to know in a world filled of so many things. Change always brings about so many challenges, most incredibly difficult. How does one capture that all on a page in a small space to journal. You don't. Maybe that is the point, embrace it for what it is and make the most of it, even if it was just a little chance to dream a little dream.

Monday, October 12, 2009

Who wouldn't be when your boy brings home the floating trophy for good behaviour. Especially when it is a new school and you are trying to fit in with your peers. You were so very proud of this award (but not really that happy to give me some photos.) This is the best we got in between the tears of whose flower had fallen off the stalk for spring day.:0)

I used a sketch from a million little things blog. Sometimes it just takes the pressure off to do a sketch to record the memory you want.My Autumn leaves stamps are out and in action again. Like rediscovering hidden candy.Some white thickers with some inked edges so that they stand out. Got to love these letters. Best alpha's ever. Mind you, CNA does a cheap version in smaller size that work great too.

See those stamps are getting more attention these days. Yes I am a proud mom.

Last laugh is on me. Yes I love this paper pack by scenic route. I have used it quite a bit in the past and am still using it. Love the bright colours. But I just cant get my mind around wasting a whole sheet to just back it up. LOL. So sometimes when I make borders I cut it out and stick it together. Have no idea why I do this because I have enough paper to last me a life time. Just something I do.

Friday, October 9, 2009

Listening to the rain and running water. It is dripping. How many drips in a minute? Will it be raining when it is waking up time. Will it be a day for gumboots, pretty yummy marshmellowy ones. What will we do with the kideroos inside again on a raining day. How much is too much TV. Are the games they play OK for their age, does bashing Mario on a screen release frustration or make it a social acceptable practice. See what listening to the rain does to me.... Ever since I was a little one, I could not sleep when it rained. Just had to listen that first drip, that was me, gone on a train of thoughts.

It is 3 in the morning. Life is so quiet except for the drip and the rain. Internet seems incredibly slow and hanging too. Why wouldn't it, it is 3 in the morning and we should all be sleeping. And I will have to tell Luke that the water outside now will be on the cold side and probably totally green from the rain. So yes, we are still waiting for summer to roll on in.

For the title, used some paint, stamped it, cut it out, backed it up and then got rid of some of my eyelet stash.

Luke helped me make these stampedout 100 percent Boy embellishments. (They are from autumn leaves). He helped me colour them in a bit too. I did give them a once over after him. He does like art, drawing and colouring in so he is always encouraged to help out. Makes it a little bit more personal too.

Don't you just love that face of mixed emotions. He was so happy to be able to be allowed into the water even though it was not warm enough. But then shouting "AHHHHHHHHH its too cold".

So as much as he wanted to swim he realised it was still a little bit too cold.

Thursday, October 8, 2009

I have been doing some happy pages in the past week. Using lots of yellow which is something different for me. Maybe it is because we have spent the whole of the school holidays watching the rain coming down, waiting for the sun of summer. Hopefully will upload and post in the coming week.

Using some paint, my old rubber stamps, pens and glitter on the paint while still wet.

Sunday, October 4, 2009

I never really know what to put in this title box. But I am always trying to learn new things, even in scrapping. You can see this from my style as I bounce around. It is mostly dependent on my mood and the time I have for art and as I call it, my colour therapy. So I try things, it might not necessarily be what I like, but I give it a shot. Sometimes it works out and sometimes well, lets just say it might get tossed or put in that bottom draw for another try. It is only paper after all. Yes true, but in many ways its an art too and an expression from our hearts.

So what have you learnt that is new or have seen and so wanting to try?

I have been pondering digital templates for awhile. Someone else has already put them together in a balanced and workable way. I like being creative and starting a project from scratch and that is perhaps why I battle with sketches too. So I managed to get some time in front of my PC while the kids were watching some tv. So here is my learning for the weekend. I gave digi templates a chance. Must say, its easier than I thought.

Looks hard getting all those different coloured papers lined up like that with a shadow at the bottom. Not really. If you know how. That is the beauty of this digi template. Its already done for you.

Want to know how.....Template is a freebie from "with love from Mushy". I love her work. See her stuff at Little Dreamer Designs.The digi paper I used is from Happy go Lucky kit from Shabby Princess. Its free as well. And has some really great kits that are free if your starting out with digi and don't yet want to commit to buying. I am sure to use this kit over and over again.

So how do you take the kit and put it into the digi template.I use photoshopOpen the template, its already populated with all the layers. Open your paper then move it over to your template page. Put it directly over the layer where you want to transform the grey into the beautiful patterned paper. Select the two layers (ctrl and click on the layer) then push Ctrl and G (this should group them together)Then on the coloured layer - right click and select create a clipping mask. Magic happens and your patterned paper changes into the grey box shape underneath.

Yes its that easy.

Sometimes it just takes a moment out to try something new. Doesn't always have to be hard and complicated. And makes for having some fun to watch your page come alive. I am glad I gave it a try.

Thursday, September 17, 2009

In my house that word is reserved for Joel, has his name stamped all over it.

It is a raining, misty and a grey day. My children are happily sitting inside watching Shrek and I am sitting by my computer which is in the same room. So I am happily playing about, doing some admin, answering some mails, chatting to the kids and completing this page while on the other table I have some paper scrapping going on. Miserable day outside, nice and warm and happy right here inside too.

Friday, September 4, 2009

This word made me think of "Inner beauty" and straight away I will say my mom has it. Most that know her will tell you that she speaks straight from the heart and her love for life and people shines right through her eyes. She is an amazing remarkable woman. A true beauty in my world. A great quote, I think says it all. My mom sure does vibrate at a different frequency.

Around each letter I wrote words that describe what I think my mom's inner beauty is all about, like Joy, wonderful, peaceful...

ps - somehow I always seem to finish my challenge just in time no matter how early I begin them. This time I wanted to try something different and use up lots of patterned paper all together. I normally do boy pages so this was so refreshing for me. Thanks again Bee, your butterflies make me smile. I will have to place an order for some more soon.

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

I wanted to support TMW and take part in the challenges Amelia is running on the site. On Sunday I found some time to give it a bash. Digi it is because it wouldn't have been a good time to take out the paper and already have some work in progress. I am so glad I got to do this story about my Granny's butterflies. It has been on my list of stories I want to capture because of it being a very special day for me.

The Sketch

A special story. I want to do a heritage album because it is the stories that matter behind the photo's.

The other sketch. I had a bit of extra time, so put together this one too. More just having fun on my PC. I took the pictures on Sunday. We had spent the morning at the beach. Just some really happy snaps of Joel. Can you believe he is just 3. He is one strong child. Must be that German blood in the platelets he received when he was so sick. LOL. So wonderful to see him so healthy and happy. My superstar kid.

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Was looking on the net and came across My Minds Eye challenge.Challenge:Your challenge is to create a layout using this sketch from PageMaps as your creative spring-boar. The rules: Use ANY My Mind’s Eye products (current or past) you’d like as long as your project has at least 80% My Mind’s Eye products.

Challenges of product sites are difficult especially when they always ask for pages from their new ranges, etc. So I smiled when I saw this one, have quite a bit of my minds eye paper in my stash and I was going to do a page with the pictures of Bee and me with the butterfly poem we found. The reason being, she gave me a packet of punched out butterflies when I saw her, she sat and punched out butterflies for me before making the trip to see me. So special butterflies indeed were used.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Oh the joys of reworks...yes I know its just paper. Have been working on this for some time, taken it apart, built it up again and now I AM GOING to stop and just leave it be. Do you ever have one of those days where nothing works, comes together or you just want to try the page again but differently? Be nice to hear your stories of - oh its just paper after all! Not exactly just paper :) is it ever.

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Isn't that something special. She is 23 human years this year. She has been part of most of my life and has been with my child since he was born. She often snuggles up close to him to. I always say she has lived so long because she was smart enough to make her humans her slaves. The other theory is if I ever come back to this life I am coming back as my mom's pet.

She talks non stop. If she wants to go anywhere she will meow until she gets her own way. Even if it is at 4 in the morning. You will open up the window and she will look at you in disgust and tell you, "no I am not going out the window, that is for lower class...I used the door."

Still think its pretty amazing that Skitti Marriti is now so old and still so full of life and bringing my kids joy too.

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

You ever think about it, why we scrap book, why we blog, why we collect stash like no tomorrow. Well I came across this paragraph browsing Ali Edwards site. Its a great article - so worth the read.

"Eventually I discovered for myself the utterly simple prescription for creativity: be intensely yourself. Don't try to be outstanding; don't try to be a success; don't try to do pictures for others to look at - just please yourself."- Ralph Steiner

Being seen as selfish or extravagant for indulging yourself in scrapbooking. There was a great quote from Elizabeth Gilbert (author of Eat, Pray, Love) when she was on Oprah recently. A woman had asked her about being seen as selfish for creating a list of things in life she wanted to do and actually doing them; in essence, focusing on things she loved. "In Mandarin Chinese, they have two words for selfish," Liz says. "One means doing that which is beneficial to you. The other means hoarding, greedy and cruel." She talked about how we as a culture have meshed the two meanings together and made the word into something very negative. She suggests you simply ask yourself, "is this beneficial?" Is it beneficial to tell the stories of your family? Is it beneficial to participate in a hobby that combines your love for your family and your love for photography or words or creativity? (Note: even beneficial things can become negative when driven to the extreme. Striving for balance in all things is usually a good path forward.)

This in one of mineAbove all else, it is about leaving a mark that I existed: I was here. I was hungry. I was defeated. I was happy. I was sad. I was in love. I was afraid. I was hopeful. I had an idea and I had a good purpose and that's why I made works of art. Felix Gonzalez-Torres

Ok I am supposed to name 5 things that I would like to do. Only 5? You have got to be kidding me, there is so much I want to do. how do I limit it to 5?

1. ) Be the best mom that I can be. Single momhood leaves you with so many shortcomings, its hard to keep up with it all and not beat yourself up too much. So where I can, I want to know I am giving it my best.

2.) Be more spiritual. Finding ways to bring me closer to my faith. Sometimes this is challenging when life gets so busy.

3.) Be a better friend. Find ways to seek out good things in my friends and make them feel good about themselves and find ways to let them know I care lots.

4.) Take more photo's and maybe one day find away to make some extra money so I can buy a new lens. But also to bring joy to people and capture something special.

5.) And of course the selfish thing, I would really like to go back to Paris.

Now I am going to change the rules, instead of sending this off to 5 bloggers, if you are reading all this, then the award is passed onto you.

Friday, August 7, 2009

It is scary when you look at your blog and think, oh my word, was that when last I updated.

So much happened since the last post...

Ireland (lots of great memories)

U2 (Totally frikking mind blowing experience - wow)

Seeing Bee (ah, see below)

Kids back to school, 2 kids party nogal too.

I will blog another post another day and share some Ireland pictures. For the time being they are on my PC, collaged and waiting for the "TO DO DAY". Its easy to collage in Picasa and if you play around you really get a great way of putting together lots of holiday photos. I am so impressed with how they all came out. Also so impressed I could show Bee how she too can quickly whip them up. Watch this space - I am sure she is going to use some of these soon soon.

What can I say about my friend Bee. So totally awesomely fantastic to see her. Laughter just flows. Here is the collage she did especially for me.And I had a visitor, I don't know it the cheeky bugger is going to stay around as we have been debating my current status of creativity and what I want to do, says knitting is repetitive and brain deadening or that fact that I have too many watchables recorded on the PVR. Anyway the Mojo dude stayed around long enough to entertain me with some paper, glue and glitter. Got to love it when he visits and 4x6 photos all just work and line up the way you want with not too much debate. Or maybe its the whisky (as in Ireland do as they do) inspired talk that helped us get through a double page together. Or maybe its just the desire to have the sun back and the swimming pool to burn lots of kids energy.

Happy long weekend everyone. If that mojo man pitches up at your place, just feed him whisky me thinks.

Friday, July 17, 2009

One of my dearest friends, Vilosh had a little baby girl in June. I have not been able to visit because of the pesky flu germ. It gave me at least some time to put together this little book for her. A few pieces of scrap paper, a sticker sheet and a rub on. Basically all I had out.

I had to use yellow mixed with the pink. She was in denial that she was having a girl, so yellow is the colour to balance the pink with.

I got to see baby and mom yesterday. Aw how very precious and so very cute. She loved her little book too.

Monday, July 13, 2009

This one, he makes me laugh lots. He reminds me so much of me in strange and funny ways. Who would have thought you could bath with your goggles on just to see the bottom of the bath underwater. Hope it made you smile too.

My Favourite Quote at the Moment

There are only four questions of value in life, Don Octavio. What is sacred? Of what is the spirit made? What is worth living for, and what is worth dying for? The answer to each is the same: only love. - Don Juan DeMarco (Johnny Depp)